Lid and cup dispenser having an elongated yieldable tension element secured by a transversely adjustable anchoring block disposed astride the dispensing opening

Abstract

A group of flanged lids or cups of substantially identical construction and arranged in nested relation in a container are dispensed from an open end of the container by an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride the open end of the container and arranged to override the flange of the article adjacent the open end of the container thereby to release and to aid in ejecting the article from the container.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for dispensing an article from a group of nested substantially identical flanged articles disposed in an elongated container and biased toward and open end of said container, said device comprising an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride said open end of said container and in engagement with the flange of an article disposed at said open end of said container and normally holding said article against dislodgement from said container, said elongated yieldable tension element being adapted to override said flange of said article thereby to release and to aid in ejecting said article from said container, and anchoring means disposed at said open end of said container and having securing means for respectively engaging and holding opposite ends of said elongated yieldable tension element so as to cause said elongated yieldable tension element to impart an inward force to said article, said anchoring means being bodily movable in a direction transverse to the axis of said container thereby to adapt the device for use with articles of different transverse dimensions. 
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the articles are biased toward the open end of said container by means of a compression spring disposed within said container. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the articles dispensed are lids for cups and the like. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated yieldable tension element comprises a mechanical spring. 
     
     
       5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said elongated yieldable tension element effectively imparts an ejecting force to said one article when caused to override said flange of said article. 
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5 wherein said elongated yieldable tension element immediately engages the flange of the article which immediately succeeds said one article thereby to hold such succeeding article against dislodgement from said container. 
     
     
       7. A device for dispensing an article from a group of nested substantially identical flanged articles disposed in an elongated container and biased toward an open end of said container, said device comprising an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride said open end of said container and in engagement with the flange of an article disposed at said open end of said container and normally holding said article against dislodgement from said container, said elongated yieldable tension element being adapted to override said flange of said article thereby to release and to aid in ejecting said article from said container, and a feeder element engageable with said elongated yieldable tension element to impart overriding movement thereto. 
     
     
       8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said feeder element comprises a manually operable lever having a part engageable with said elongated yieldable tension element at a point thereon intermediate the ends thereof. 
     
     
       9. A device according to claim 7 wherein a stroke adjusting element is mounted on said feeder element. 
     
     
       10. A device for dispensing an article from a group of nested substantially identical flanged articles disposed in an elongated container and biased toward an open end of said container, said container being disposed within a housing with its open end aligned with and immediately adjacent an aperture in said housing, said device comprising an elongated yieldable tension element disposed astride said open end of said container and in engagement with the flange of an article disposed at said open end of said container and normally holding said article against dislodgement from said container, said elongated yieldable tension element being adapted to override said flange of said article thereby to release and to aid in ejecting said article from said container, anchoring means adjustably mounted on said housing, and a feeder element pivotally mounted on said anchoring means and having a manually engageable part and a part for engaging and moving said elongated yieldable tension means. 
     
     
       11. A device according to claim 10 wherein a stroke adjusting element is adjustably mounted on said feeder element. 
     
     
       12. A device according to claim 11 wherein said stroke adjusting element comprises an adjusting screw threadedly mounted on said feeder element.